State Sen. Tom McClintock has spent most of his 22 years in the California Legislature bashing government. Now he's termed out of his Senate seat, but he won't go quietly. McClintock is running for the only open seat he can find -- a Northern California congressional post several hundred miles from his Thousand Oaks district in Southern California. His home congressional seat is held by a Republican so that's off limits.
You don't have to live in a congressional district to run for that district. You just have to be a qualified voter, a resident of California and at least 25 years old. McClintock qualifies on that basis. Besides he spends most of his time in Elk Grove, although it's not his legal residence for state Senate purposes. Elk Grove still is not in the 4th Congressional District, but it's a lot closer than Thousand Oaks.
The 4th District is open because Rep. John Doolittle decided not to seek re-election. A big reason is the FBI is investigating him.
The other Republican in the race is former Rep. Doug Ose of Sacramento. He had to move into the district, too, although Sacramento is right next door to the 4th District. The Democrat, who has no chance of winning, actually lives in the district: retired Air Force Lt. Col. Charlie Brown of Roseville. But this is a Republican seat and the winner undoubtedly will be decided on June 3 in the GOP primary.
McClintock had a quick response to the carpetbagger charge in this quote from the Sacramento Bee: "I think most people are far more interested in where one stands than where one lives."
Maybe so, but Ose, who's just a little bit of a carpetbagger, is running an ad calling McClintock a big old carpetbagger.
..he reminds me of P.J. "Pat" Camaroda, long- time city councilman in fresno back in the 60's, no imagination...he simply voted NO on any taxes or spending. I guess nowadays most taxing and spending is directly proportional to the re-election money-raising imperative... ya know? like that old quid pro quo just wont go...away...heard about campaign reform lately?...it takes alot of money to be inspirational.
Tom McClintock has been a champion of individual liberty and Constitutional rights.
He has not simplistically 'bashed government,' he takes a stand against the gross waste and sense of entitlement endemic to public-sector bureaucracies. He fights for excellent government that is consistent with our nation's founding principles and laws.
It's embarrassing to think so many people are happy to live with such mediocrity in their government and are so critical of the few lone genuine voices attempting to hold public systems accountable.
McClintock knows the U.S. Constitution better than any 10 journalists/blog posters. He qualifies to run for Congress on the only 'basis' there is: Constitutional law.
If McClintock already lives in Elk Grove all this time, I doubt he's 'moving' into the district, a la Doug Ose. If the voters of California's 4th Congressional district think his Elk Grove address is important, let them vote accordingly. If you don't like the Constitution, start working on an Amendment.
Hopefully McClintock is right and we won't lose a great public servant.
Since when is voting "NO" on taxes and spending a bad thing? O for the days of Pat Camaroda - my favorite Dem!
Just for clarification: Sen. McClintock lives in Elk Grove, but is registered to vote in Thousand Oaks so he can legally represent his Ventura County Senate district. But Elk Grove is not in the congressional district he is seeking.
Right, it's clear Elk Grove is not 'in the district' but I doubt McClintock is moving. (Why should he?)
Moving just to run for office *is* carpetbagging.
As usual Charlie Brown gets little respect.That's most disturbing.